Emotions ran high as the verdicts were read

About 300 people cheered and sang the pop star's songs outside his Neverland ranch, but were ushered away by security guards after nightfall.

Hundreds of fans had rejoiced outside the court as the verdicts were read.

The singer, who left court without making a statement, had denied molesting teenager Gavin Arvizo.

We expected some better evidence, something more convincing - but it just wasn't there Jury member Hear the verdict

He was also cleared of giving alcohol to the boy, now 15, and conspiring to kidnap him and his family.

Speaking outside the courthouse, the star's lawyer, Thomas Mesereau, said: "Justice was served. Michael Jackson is innocent."

The star's father, Joe Jackson, told supporters gathered at the gates of the ranch that the singer was too exhausted to celebrate, but speaking on CNN, the star's brother said the verdict had been a huge relief for the Jackson family.

"As they kept reading the counts, the pressure was lifting off me and I was holding my mom tight and we all cried through every count," Tito Jackson said.

The verdicts on the 10 charges against the singer were reached after more than 30 hours of deliberations over the last week.

Family's relief

Mr Jackson's former wife Debbie Rowe, who defended the star in court, said she was "overjoyed that the justice system really works".

Michael Jackson waved to fans but did not speak as he left court

UK-based psychic Uri Geller, a friend for a number of years, said he was "so pleased" by the verdict.

"I'm trembling, this is so important. He did not let down his fans and all the people that love him. He went through hell and now the nightmare is over," he told the Associated Press news agency.

Fan Tara Bardella, 19, who came from Arizona two weeks ago to wait for the verdicts, said: "This proves that justice can prevail in America."

Raffles Vanexel, 29, from Amsterdam, said: "I cried as a little baby, it was the most beautiful day of my life."

Fans later gathered outside Mr Jackson's home, hoping to get a glimpse of the star, with cars backed up for at least 3km (2 miles) either side of the narrow lane leading to the Neverland ranch.

No special treatment

After telling the star he was free to go, Judge Rodney Melville read a statement from the jury saying: "We the jury feel the weight of the world's eyes upon us."

Michael Jackson fans react to the not-guilty verdicts In pictures

The jurors had asked to be allowed to return to "our private lives as anonymously as we came", he added.

At a subsequent news conference, an unnamed male jury member said: "One of the first things we decided, [was] that we had to look at him as just like any other individual. Not just as a celebrity.

"And once we got that established, we were able to deal with it just as fairly as we could with anybody else."

Another juror said: "We expected some better evidence, something more convincing - but it just wasn't there."

Headed home

Hundreds of reporters and supporters gathered for the verdicts, with scores of fans bursting into tears as the decisions were relayed on loudspeakers.

Mr Jackson had been in court with family members including father Joe, mother Katherine and sisters LaToya and Janet.

The BBC's Peter Bowes, who was in court in Santa Maria, said Mr Jackson held a tissue up to his face and showed "muted emotion" as the verdicts were read.

The jury did their job - from what I heard I would have done the same Jennifer B, Wisconsin, USA Have your say on the verdicts

Afterwards, he walked straight to his car with little emotion and without the expected statement to the waiting fans and media, and headed home.

Santa Barbara district attorney Tom Sneddon, who led the case against Jackson, said he accepted the decision. "We did the right thing for the right reasons," he said.